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Gambhir Century Helps India Build Massive Lead

Sunday 5 April 2009

India 379 (Tendulkar 62) & 349-5 (Gambhir 167) v

New Zealand 197 (Zaheer Khan 5-65)

Third Test, Wellington, day three: stumps

Gautam Gambhir stroked his second century of the series as India closed day three of the third and final Test against New Zealand in Wellington some 531 runs ahead.

Gambhir scored 167 in 257 balls, hitting 16 fours and two sixes as India remained in complete control of the match, resuming on 51 for one in their second innings.

Gambhir and Rahul Dravid (60) added 170 for the second wicket, batting until lunch before Dravid was caught by Brendon McCullum off of Daniel Vettori and Vettori struck again soon after to have Sachin Tendulkar caught by Ross Taylor for nine.

The catch to dismiss Dravid was an outstanding piece of work from McCullum, who took the catch on the leg-side as Dravid swept, the wicket-keeper showing superb anticipation and reflexes.

However, Gambhir then combined with VVS Laxman, who made a fluent 61, to add 106 for the fourth wicket as India's lead stretched towards the 500 mark.

Both men were then dismissed by O'Brien as he took two wickets in two overs, trapping Gambhir in front and bowling Laxman.

Yuvraj Singh (15 not out) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (16 not out) guided India to stumps with no further loss of wickets.

Sachin Tendulkar, Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh all scored half-centuries in India's first innings before Zaheer Khan, with five wickets, and Harbhajan, with three, bowled New Zealand out for 197.

India lead the series 1-0.